1,450 gallons of fuel spilled from DOT yard into Raritan River in Bedminster

Somerset County Hazmat responded to Klines Mills Road in Bedminster Township April 11 for a diesel fuel tank leak into the Raritan River.Meghan D. Hodgin/NJ.com

BEDMINSTER — Almost the entire amount of
fuel in a tank spilled last week from a state Department of Transportation yard
in Bedminster, resulting in 1,450 gallons of oil traveling through a storm
drain and into the Raritan River, according to DOT officials.

It was previously estimated that about 1,500 gallons of fuel was in the
2,000-gallon fuel tank the morning of the spill, according to a state
Department of Environmental Protection spokesman.

The DOT confirmed Friday that 1,450 gallons of the 1,500
estimated gallons of fuel was actually spilled that morning.

Bedminster Township Police responded April 11 between 7 and
7:30 a.m. to Klines Mill Road near River Road on a fuel odor report, according
to Lt. Craig Meyer.

The fire department was dispatched to the area, along with
the Somerset County Hazmat Team and the state DEP's Division of Fish and
Wildlife was notified of the leak, and was on site.

"Work continued until dark, and most of the product was
recovered in the stream," he said. There was no sheen in the Raritan April
12, but crews worked to clean up a nearby wooded area, removing any additional
pockets of diesel fuel.

The nearest downstream water intake was notified by DEP as
"a precaution," Considine said, although it was about 17 miles from
the site of the spill.